Portland voters using ranked-choice for mayor

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Absentee voting has been underway across the state for a couple weeks now -- and in portland, that means people have been able to check out the new way of voting for mayor -- by ranking their choices.

So far, the city clerk says only about 3,000 Portland residents have cast their ballots.

That number is lower than expected.

But, the good news, according to the clerk's office is, people do seem to be understanding these ranked choice ballots.

The way voting for mayor in Portland works is that you have the opportunity to not only pick your first choice -- but also your second, third and so on. You can rank up to 15 candidates.

Voters we spoke with say the toughest part of voting was the sheer number of candidates -- but the ballot itself was not intimidating.